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Published May 21, 1999 | public
Journal Article

Cracks Faster than the Shear Wave Speed

Abstract

Classical dynamic fracture theories predict the surface wave speed to be the limiting speed for propagation of in-plane cracks in homogeneous, linear elastic materials subjected to remote loading. This report presents experimental evidence to the contrary. Intersonic shear-dominated crack growth featuring shear shock waves was observed along weak planes in a brittle polyester resin under far-field asymmetric loading. When steady-state conditions were attained, the shear cracks propagated at speeds close to √2 times the material shear wave speed. These observations have similarities to shallow earthquake events where intersonic shear rupture speeds have been surmised.

Additional Information

© 1999 American Association for the Advancement of Science. Received 17 December 1998; accepted 8 April 1999. Supported by NSF grant CMS9813100 and Office of Naval Research grant N00014-95-0453. A.J.R. thanks J. R. Rice of Harvard University for penetrating discussions during his November 1998 visit to Harvard. Helpful comments by B. Broberg of the University of Lund are also gratefully acknowledged.

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 18, 2023